VIP Pushes Macau Recovery

Investment analysts say June will prove another positive month for Macau, with VIP revenues leading the recovery (at left, the VIP concierge at Galaxy Macau). Estimates in year-on-year growth...

Published June 19, 2017

Japan Rushes to Wrap Addiction Bill

Japan’s ordinary Diet session may close this month without passage of a gambling addiction bill. The legislation is seen as a linchpin in the development of the country’s nascent...

Published June 19, 2017

PAGCOR to SunCity: Not So Fast on Junket Takeover

Junket operator SunCity Group is in trouble with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. because it took over VIP operations at the casino at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza (l.)...

Published June 19, 2017

Success Universe Plans More Ponte 16 Renovations

Macau resort operator Success Universe, which just completed its renovation of Ponte 16 hotel (l.) in the Chinese SAR, is now moving on to refurbish its high-limit and VIP...

Published June 19, 2017

Landing Exits Philippines

Mainland Chinese real estate firm Landing International Development Ltd. has opted not to pursue a Philippine gaming business. In May the company announced its intentions to enter the market.

Published June 19, 2017

Macau Currency Disclosures Coming in November

Starting November 1, Macau will require visitors to the Chinese territory to declare all currencies of MOP 120,000 (US$15,000) or more before entering. The law is designed to combat...

Published June 19, 2017

RW Admits Security Lapse in Deadly Attack

Security at Genting’s Resorts World Manila (l.) is under review after the deadly June 2 attack that killed 37 people. RW has admitted that of 200 security personnel, only...

Published June 12, 2017

CNMI: Imperial Pacific Casino OK’d to Open

The Northern Marianas Casino Commission has conditionally approved the opening of the Imperial Pacific Resort casino (l.) on the island of Saipan. The operator must satisfy safety concerns at...

Published June 12, 2017

Macau Casinos Stocks Skyrocket

Macau’s 10-month winning streak has sent share prices soaring. With VIP players coming back in droves, Galaxy Entertainment (l.) was up 77 percent, Wynn Macau 45 percent and Sands...

Published June 12, 2017

Is Las Vegas Sands the Frontrunner in Japan?

Morningstar analyst Chelsey Tam says the Las Vegas Sands Corp. will likely bag an integrated resort license in Japan. The country is expected to award at least two licenses...

Published June 12, 2017

China Keeping Tabs on Offshore Transactions

Under new rules from China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange, starting in September the country’s banks will be required to report all cardholder’s overseas transactions every day and any...

Published June 12, 2017

Venetian Macau Junks Junket

The Venetian Macau has terminated an accord with a junket operator. The deal with the Venetian was responsible for some 41.3 percent of group revenue. The Sands China property...

Published June 12, 2017

Gambling Prohibited At Liberation Festivities

Casino and gambling operations were not part of Liberation festivities this year on Guam, since Governor Eddie Calvo let an anti-gambling bill lapse into law. Passed in a unanimous...

Published June 12, 2017

Ho: Osaka’s the Choice for Japan IR

Lawrence Ho (l.), head of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd., says Osaka is the best choice for one of Japan’s first integrated resorts. The son of Macau legend Stanley...

Published June 5, 2017

Macau Roars Back in May

Macau’s gaming industry posted 23.7 percent in GGR growth for May to MOP22.7 billion (US$2.8 billion), exceeding the consensus of analysts who foresaw 16.5 percent growth.

Published June 5, 2017

Vietnam MOF Assumes Casino Permit Role

The Vietnamese government has given the country’s Ministry of Finance the authority to award casino business licenses. It’s unclear if the ministry will be involved in a three-year pilot...

Published June 5, 2017

Macau Roosevelt Gets Casino License

The Macau Roosevelt Hotel (l.), soon to open on the grounds of the Macau Jockey Club, will include a new casino under the a license from gaming concessionaire SJM...

Published June 5, 2017

Proposal Could End Guam Festival Gambling

Guam legislators unanimously approved a bill to prohibit casino gambling at the annual Liberation carnival. Now Governor Eddie Falco has a few more days to approve or veto the...

Published June 5, 2017

Phuket Casino Raid Results in 63 Arrests

Law enforcers including local police and military raided an illegal casino in Phuket Town, Thailand and arrested 63 gamblers on May 27. Officials seized about 2 million baht (US$59,000)...

Published June 5, 2017

Philippines Adds Casinos to AML Laws

Lawmakers in the Philippines last month voted to approve a bill that will add casinos to the list of businesses covered under the country’s anti-money laundering laws.

Published June 5, 2017